Loew with lots on his mind: Problems at home, tempting atmosphere ahead

Despite the earthquake-like tremors in the German Football Association, football gourmets like German head coach Joachim Loew are still hoping for on the pitch gala-dinners when the 2014 World Champion meets EURO 2016 hosts France this Friday evening in Paris and the Netherlands in Hannover next Tuesday for two friendlies.

"We are happy to concentrate on football again. This game in Paris, in the arena where the 2016 final will take place will give us an idea of what is waiting for us next summer," 55-year old Loew said.

But anticipation seems to be just as hard work as it will be to face a European top team like France wanting to prove the host of the next major tournament is in convincing shape. After the resignation of the German association boss Wolfgang Niersbach due to investigations around Germany's assumedly dirty bid for the 2006 World Cup (in which German legend Franz Beckenbauer is assumedly involved as well) mixed feeling have reached the German national team and Loew like dark clouds chasing across the sky.

Despite Loew and his team are neglecting their difficult job to keep up the reputation of the brand "Football Made in Germany", German fans are putting all their hopes and expectations on Loew and his team performance.

But the preparation of the German national team couldn't have been more difficult as several players are suffering from injuries or will be sidelined due to stressful campaigns with their clubs. Looking at the strength-sapping tournament next summer, Loew wants to give players like Mesut Oezil (Arsenal) or Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) a recovery break as both will have no (or only a very short) winter break. On top: Others like Karim Bellarabi (Bayer Leverkusen), Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich) and Marko Reus (Borussia Dortmund) still suffer from various post injuries problems - and Jerome Boateng (Bayern), Christoph Kramer (Leverkusen) and Max Kruse (VfL Wolfsburg) are not fully fit after injuries.

Originally Loew wanted to use both friendlies to test several tactical variations and open the door for several new players like 19-year old Leroy Sane (FC Schalke 04) or returning Besiktas Istanbul striker Mario Gomez, who had his last appearance for Germany in as far back as in September 2014. At least against the more serious test against France, Loew will rely on his strongest possible squad.

Against the Netherlands (which missed qualification for the 2016 tournament in France) the German coach might change his strategy. Then he might try to play with a central striker Gomez, Sane and a new goal keeper as Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer will get a break. Kevin Trapp (Paris St. Germain), Bernd Leno (Leverkusen) or Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover 96) are hoping for an appearance instead. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (Barcelona) is sidelined due to a tooth operation.

For the Paris game, Loew will have to decide if he prefers either a "false nine" strategy leaving a traditional central striker like Gomez out and calling for Thomas Mueller as the German spearhead instead. If Gomez is amongst the starting eleven (which most pundits don't expect), Mueller will play down the right. Along the left flank could be Lukas Podolski (Galatasaray Istanbul), who after his transfer to Turkey is in back in form - as is Gomez.

In front of Neuer, a back row of Jonas Hector (1. FC Cologne), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Jerome Boateng (Bayern) and Matthias Ginter (Dortmund) is expected. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Manchester United) and Sami Khedira (Juventus Turin) stand for the "double six" in defensive midfield with a row of three made of Podolski (Galatasaray), Ilkay Guendogan (Dortmund) and Leroy Sane (Schalke) is expected and Mueller (Bayern) as spearhead.

Two to three Germans might be under special observation in the last games of the German national team in 2015. First Bastian Schweinsteiger who still has problems finding his feet at Manchester and the new procedures in the English Premier League. Second Schalke's highly talented youngster Leroy Sane who is supposed to invest his youthful nonchalance and creativity - and Gomez who will have to convince Loew that he and his team need a center forward despite Loew's plan not to use one or only when his team is struggling to find the back of the net.

"Our team will manage to concentrate on football, I am convinced as the new candidates will try to use their chance to show up in our squad," Loew said who was not happy about only one training session due to sponsoring and merchandising obligations around the test games. The game against 2016 host France is the more important one for Loew as it is regarded as a game to contain the fight for reputation of two important football nations.

The France game is regarded by Loew to be the kick off for the intense preparation regarding the 2016 tournament Loew intends to win as he several times mentioned. "France stands for world class on every position. To play them is a big challenge," Loew said.

And striker Thomas Mueller is looking forward to a special atmosphere saying "we want to have fun and absorb the very unique atmosphere in the Stade de France". Looking at all the problems back home this special atmosphere seems to be more tempting than ever. Endi